i will check them, although i didnt see a ground up at the top tranny bolt. i know there was a bracket up there, but i dont remember a ground comming off from there - or anywhere on the bell housing for that matter.

 

i had a similar issue once. it ended up being the shifter linkage at the trans was messed up and wouldn't put the trans back into park, thus not disengaging the neutral safety switch. the indicator and all that worked but i didn't have any lights on. worth checking.

 

today is a new day so, hopefully i have a stupid mistake staring at me in the face

 

The job of the P/N switch is to stop the truck from starting in anything but Park and Neutral. Pull it down to N and see if it will try to start.

Also, check the fuses. Kinda obvious but maybe to got something when you removed the starter. Also check all the wires on the starter. Generally this is usually just a wire missing, pinched or something.

Thanks for the props.

 

thanks guys for all the replies. ive been doin this stuff for over a decade so i should not have this kind of issue. The end of the night last night I was tired and rung out, I just wanted to hear the truck run and go home. So when it didnt fire, I thought the worst and started looking there as in the ignition switch and the p/n switch ( which by the way I know what it is and I know what it does-i was just really damn as tired last night and have way to much **** on my plate right now to have to deal with this from an otherwise very reliable truck)
Anyway, got back to my shop this morning and within seconds of arrival, I found the ignition fuse blown. I replaced and started the truck with no problem. Topped off the fluid in the tranny and went for a comfortable easy shifting ride. I once again have all 4 gears in they feel sweet.
At the end of a looooong day from a very tired tech will result in a stupid mistake.

Thanks again guys
much appreciated

 

I was rt.. lol good to hear u got it going